Automatic machine for making beaded cups



1943- w. J. GREGORY 2,446,649

AUTOMATI C MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z8 55 F Z I INVENTOR- w zirzey fr'gag 1948- w. J. GREGORY .7 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet '2 Aug. 10, 1948. w. J. GREGORY 2,443,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet '3 Aug, 10, 1948. w E RY 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 I I 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 .7f fforvzeys Aug. 10, 1948. w. J. GREGORY AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Zl/filfizg 1671901 BY w hm. 4 s) 1948- w. J. GREGORY 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED ouPs Aug. 10,. 1948. J GREGORY 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet '7 It '72? F712. /5 k 72 7.3g 4Q I;

IN VEN TOR.

'10, 1948- w. J. GREGORY I 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Filed March 26, 1947 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 y zyarvzeys Aug. 10, 1948.

W. J. GREGORY AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed March 26, 1947 INVENTOR. wifrzeylfim gozg 454m, 71% r a) yfi zyorvze a Aug. 10. 1948. w GREGORY 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS 1 1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed March 26, 1947 R m m m Aug. 10, 1948. w GREGORY I 2,446,649

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKINGIBEADED CUPS I A Filed March 26, 1947 i1 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Aug. 10, 1948 AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MAKING BEADED CUPS Whitney J. Gregory, Peoria, Ill. Application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,395

Claims. (01. 93-47) This invention relates to an automatic machine for making cup-shaped containers with beaded edges from strip material, and more particularly from thermoplastic material such as cellulose acetate.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic machine wherein work material in strip form may be fed into one portion of the machine, and complete cup-shaped beaded containers will be discharged from other portions of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved blanking and forming die which will make cup-shaped containers which will have smooth and regular rounded shape and will slide into beading position readily on the beading unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple feeding device which will feed strip material intermittently under a slight tension into the blanking die in timed relation to the operation of the movable parts of the die.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blanking die with an improved cutting edge and another cutter for trimming off the waste margin from a cup after it has been drawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 a circular group of beading units which are operated seriatim in timed relation to the forming die.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved movable conveying means for transporting the containers from the forming die to the beading units.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic feeding units for pressing the edge of the cup into the bead-forming groove and oscillating the container while the bead is being formed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2, a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3, a top plan view; Fig. 4, a plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a top plan sectional view, taken as indicated at line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a bottom plan view, taken as indicated at line 6--6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7, a fragmentary view partly in section of one of the beading units, taken as indicated generally at line '|1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of one of the bead forming dies for forming an inwardly directed bead; Fig. 9, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a modified die to form an outwardly extending bead; Fig. 1'0, a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line |0l0 of Fig. '7; Fig. 11, a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line I ll I of Fig. 7; Fig. 12, a bottom plan sectional view from below, taken as indicated atline l2i2 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a fragmentary plan view of part of the transmission for imparting intermittent motion to the feed rolls for a strip of work material; Fig. 1.4, a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line I l-44 of Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the blanking and forming die mechanism in open position; Fig. 16, an enlarged perspective view of the outside blanking ring and its holder; Fig. 17, an enlarged vertical sectional view of the blanking and forming mechanism, showing the die in closed position after forming a cup; Fig. 18, a perspective View of a circular blank which is out in the firstoperation from the strip of work material; Fig. 19, a perspective view of a trim ring which is out from the cup as the forming operation is completed; Fig. 20, a perspective view of a formed cup as it leaves the forming die and before it is beaded; Fig. 21, a perspective view of a. completed container having a pair of cups, either of which may be formed automatically by the improved machine; and Fig. 22, a fragmentary sectional view, taken as indicated at line 22-22 of Fig. 21.

In the embodiment illustrated, A designates a main frame having a top platform A, on which a blanking and forming die is mounted, and a lower platform A on which bead-forming units are mounted; B, a blanking and forming die which is driven from a cam shaft, from a suitable electric motor mounted on the platform A; C, feeding and tensioning mechanism for advancing a strip of material through the die B; D, electrically heated beading units mounted on the platform A E, a rotary turret which is provided with operating cams for the beading units and serves as part of the conveyor mechanism for moving the containers from the forming die to the beading units; and the transmission means includes a sprocket chain F for driving a shaft with a beveled gear, which in turn drives through a beveled gear and sprocket a chain F which through an intermittent feed device operates a sprocket chain F ,-the chain F also driving a chain F which through suitable gearing drives a sprocket chain F which continuously rotates the turret E.

The main frame A has its upper and lower platforms secured together in spaced relation by three tubular legs 23 which preferably are provided at their lower ends with casters 24. The upper platform A has a fixed superstructure 25 having bearings 25 for a drive shaft 21. A worm gear reduction mechanism 28 is provided at one end of the shaft, and has a pulley 2'9 driven by belt 3% from an electric motor 3| mounted on the platform A.

The drive shaft 21 is driven continuously by an electric motor and has a pair of cams 32 which periodically depress spring-held push rods 33,

which are secured at their lower ends to part ofthe blanking die B, by means of lock nuts 34; The shaft 21 is also provided with a grooved cam wheel 35, into which extends a roller- 36 provided at the upper end of the plunger 31 of the forming die. The drive shaft 21 is further provided with a sprocket wheel 38 which drives the sprocket chain F. A pair of cams 39 and 40 are provided at one end. of: the shaft 21and operate through push. rods a pair of valves 41. and 42, respectively, in a compressed air line 43. The air line may have a hand-operated cut-ofi valve 44, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The blanking and forming die. B has a base plate which is bolted to the top platform A, as indicated at46. The base plate has a central opening which communicates with an opening in the panel A, through which the formed containers may drop. An electric heating coil 41 is placed in a groove in the top of the base plate and is pressed snugly against a crown plate 48 by means of beaded screws 41a. The heating ring is controlled by a thermostatic switch, indicated by dotted lines 49 in the crown plate, as shown in Fig. 17. The crown plate is gripped to the base plate by means of bolts 50, and a ringshaped female die 5|- is bolted to the crown plate by means of bolts 52 The inner diameter of the female die 5|- regulates the outer diameter of the finished container. Surrounding the female die 5| is a ring-shaped stripper plate 53 which is urged upwardly by compression springs 5E surrounding machine screws 55 whose heads are slidablymounted in shoulderedsockets in the crown plate 48. The upper portion of the blanking die has a plate 56 which is adjustabl'y mounted on thepush rods 33 by the lock nuts 35. The plate 56 is provided with a bushing 56a through which the plunger 3'! may slide. An u per crown ring 5'! is secured to the plate 56 by means of bolts 58. The lower end of the ring contains a heating coil 59 secured in position by cap screws 6! A holding ring 6!, shown in inverted position in Fig. 16, is secured to the upper crown ring 5'! by means of bolts 62. A hardened steel outside blanking ring 63 is bolted to the holding ring. as indicated at 64. As best shown in 16, the blanking ring has an undulated cutting edge which is adapted to shear off the work material by its contact with the outer edge of the ring 5!. A- thermal switch 65 is imbedded in the holdingring 5!, to control the temperature of the upper heating ring 59.

Inside of" the shouldered blanking ring is mounted a presser ring 66 which' has an outwardly offset shoulder to limit its downward travel with respect to the blanking ring. The presser ring is yleldingly urged downwardly by a plurality of compression springs 61 which bear'a ainst a ring 5 8. Thepressure exerted by the springs may be controlled by adjusting screws 69,- which make a threaded connection with the upper crown ring 51 and bear against the ring 68.

The plunger 31 has an inlet opening i0 which communicates with a source of cooling water through pipe connections I I. The plunger is provided at its lower end with a ring-shaped open chamber 12, through which water may be circulated and discharged through an opening 13 through pipe connections 14. The plunger is also provided with a central air conduit 15, through which compressed air may be introduced from the airline 150. which is controlled by the valve 42 and the cam 40. A cap 31a is provided at the lower end of the plunger to close the water chamber 12,. and is provided with a small orifice it for the escape of air. Another air line 71 from the valve 42 conducts air to the nozzle 11a and serves to blow away a waste ring after a forming 1 operation.

The lower end of the plunger is threaded, as indicatedat E8, to make threaded connection with the ring shaped forming punch 19. The lower outer. edge portions of theplunger are rounded, and: serve; to. shape the container when the, plunger travels downwardly through the ring 5i. Acutting collar is gripped tightly against the shouldered portion of the lower. end of the plunger by means or the forming punch 79, and has sharp outer corner portions which serve to shear off a. trim. ringv from the top of the container as the. forming: punch advances into the female die. The collar may be inverted, by removing the head 19, in theevent that the lower cutting edge becomes dulled.

The operation of. the blanking and forming die will be understood'by reference to Fig. 15, which shows a strip of work'material advancing into the opened die, and. Fig. 17*, which shows the plunger at the end of its downward stroke. The work material is first gripped between the ring 5t and the. adjustable. presser ring 66 when the rods 33: move. downwardly. Continued motion compresses-the springs 61 and av blank of material is sheared out of the strip by the blanking ring 6.3'working: against the. outer portion of the ring. 5|. The plunger then moves downwardly and draws the blank into cup-shape while its marginal edge portions are still gripped between the rings 5! and 66. As the pressure between these rings is yielding, part of the blank is drawn inwardly, to help form the side wall of the container. As the lower edge of the cutting collar flilpasses the. upper inner edge of the ring 5|, a scrap ring of material is cut ofi and the container has a smooth top edge on its side wall which will not warp out of shape when the container is expelled from the die by a blast of air through the orifice IT; The plunger and other parts of the die then move upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 15, and a fresh length of strip stock is advanced into position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a roll of work material BI is journalled on a bracket 82 secured to the super-structure 25. Preferably, a friction device 83 with an adjusting screw 84 is provided on the trunnions of the roll to retard its unwinding. Rotation'of the device'83 is limited'by a stud provided onthe bracket 82. As best shown in Figs. 1and15, the strip of material is gripped between a topdriven roll 85 and an idlerro-ll 86 of the feeding mechanism C. The strip extends through the die into the grip of'another roll 81 and an idler roll 88. The roll 81 is slightly larger in diameter than the roll 85 but makes the same number of revolutions, due to the driving connections of the sprockets 85a and 81a and the sprocket chain F. This produces a slight tension in the strip between'the pairs of feed rolls and avoids slack or wrinkling of the strip. As will be explained, feed is intermittent, so that the rolls only operate when the die is in the open position, as shown in Fig. 15,

As best shown in. Figs. 2, 3, 4, l3 and 14, the sprocket chain F drives a small shaft 89 which has a beveled gear driving another beveled gear on a cross-shaft 90. The latter shaft has a sprocket wheel which drives the cam shaft 9| by means of the sprocket chain F A sliding rack 92 is mounted in a housing 93 fixed to the main frame of the machine and makes toothed engagement with a gear 94 secured to a cross-shaft 35 which also carries a larger gear 96. A pair of tension springs Ill are secured to the housing 93 and also are connected to a cross head 98 on an adjusting screw 99 which limits the travel of the rack towards the cam shaft Ill. The rack is provided at one end with a roller 92a adapted to be engaged by a cam IIlI! provided on the shaft 9i. When the cam I66 moves the rack against the tension of the springs 91, the gears 94 and 36 will be rotated and cause rotation of the gear IIlI which is journalled on the shaft of the upper feed roller 85 and is secured to the inner member I32 of a unidirectional clutch, whose outer housing I83 is secured to the shaft of the feed roll 85. This movement will cause the rolls 85 and 86 to feed a fresh length of work material into the die. When the rack is permitted to return under the influence of the springs 91, the member I32 will reverse its direction, but will turn freely in the housing I83, so that the feed wheels will not turn.

Preferably, the thermoplastic material is warmed slightly before being advanced into-the die, and this may be accomplished by upper and lower heating coils I64 on opposite sides of the strip between the first set of feed rolls and the die. The coils receive their current through suitable wiring II'I5 which leads to a source of electric power through a conduit I33. Another power line IB'I furnishes power to the heating coils on the die, and a line I38 extends through a switch I89 to the motor SI.

Six identical beadin units are arranged in a circle on the platform A of the main frame. As best shown in Fig. 7, each beading unit has an L-shaped bracket I II! which is bolted to the platform A and has bolted to its front face a die II I provided with a bead-forming groove H2. The die is heated by a heating coil I I3 in the bracket III! and receives its power through wires H4. A U-shaped discharge chute H5 is provided to catch the completed cup-shaped containers when withdrawn from the die II I. A U-shaped bracket H6 is bolted to the bracket III) and extends upwardly and inwardly from the die. A pair of upwardly extending wires I [1 are secured to the bracket I I6 and provide inwardly extending trunnions IIB which make a pivotal connection with a tilting tray I I9'having side walls I23. The tray is balanced so that it normally rests in a horizontal position on a bolt I 2! extending into the bracket IIB, as shown in Fig. 7. The tray is adapted to receive one cup-shaped container at a time in an upright position. When the tray is tilted up into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. '7, the container will slide down into bead-forming position. If desired, an opening I22 may be provided through the die and bracket for connection to an air line (not shown), to facilitate the removal of a container by a blast of air.

Directly opposite the die II I is a ram I23, which 6 is slidably mounted in a bracket I24 bolted to the platform A The ram head is hollow, so that it may embrace the bottom portion of a container and thrust the end of the container into the beadin groove. A tappet member I25 is slidably mounted in the shank of the ram and has a head I25a which is adapted to force the container out of the embrace of the ram head, when the ram is drawn rearwardly. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 11, the shank of the ram I25 has a cut-away quadrant I26, so that a bolt I21 may extend into the shank of the ram,limit the oscillation of the ram, limit its reciprocation, and also limit the rearward travel of the tappet by engagement with an adjustable bolt I28 provided in the rear end of the shank of the tappet.

The ram is provided near its rear end with a ball-shaped bearing I29 which is urged against a cam on the turret E by means of a combined compression and torsion spring I30. The ram is provided with a crank-like arm I3I having a roller I32 to engage a cam I33 provided on the turret E. The cam I33 is rotated continuously and causes the ram head and container to oscillate while the bead is being formed. This action is found to produce a better bead than can be obtained by a stationary device. It will be understood that the spring I30 urges the arm I3I upwardly into engagement with the cam I33.

As shown in Fig. 10, a pair of wing-like guides I35 are bolted to the bracket I24 and serve to guide the container into beading position as it is discharged from the tiltingtray H9. The ram head carries a pair of freely slidable positioning pins I35 and I36 which serve to support the container in proper position as the ram advances towards the die IIIi. When the pins contact the die I I I, they merely slide back with relation to the advancing ram head, but when the movement is reversed, one of the pins engages a stop I31 secured to the bracket I24 and again engages the side wall of the finished container. However, the other pin, having moved out of supporting position, will permit th container to roll down into the chute H5 and be discharged from the machine. In order to reset the pin I36, a push rod I38 is provided and is slidably mounted in the bracket I24 and an extension to said bracket I24a. A compression spring I39 urges the push rod rearwardly, where it may be engaged by a cam IIIII provided on the turret E. The cam I40 is so positioned that it will cause the push rod to move the pin I33 back into extended position before the next container is dropped onto the pins from the tray I I9.

The di I I I, shown in Figs. '7 and 8, is designed to form an inwardly directed bead. However, it will be understood that an outwardly extending bead may be formed by the same machinery, by substituting a mod fied die I4I having a groove I II? of the type illustrated in Fig. 9.

The turret E is journalled in a thrust bearing I43 on the platform A as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A centrally disposed shaft I44 extends downwardly and is provided beneath the platform A with a sprocket wheel I45. The turret is continuously rotated, and is driven from the cam shaft 9!, shown in Figs. 2 and 14, by a sprocket chain F which drives a sprocket wheel on a shaft I46 which is provided with a beveled gear I41 which drives a beveled gear on a vertical shaft I48 and, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided at its lower end with a sprocket wheel I49, which drives the sprocket wheel I45 of the turret by means of the chain F The shaft I44 of the turret supports at its upper gen'd ,anginclined chute i-B,;so thatits upperend: is always beneaththe forming dieand its lower end swings over each of" thetiltin trays l iii-of the; heading units. Themovement of the 'palits'is timed; so that six-containers are formed whili each beading unit handles one container. The device; is also timed sothat the=lower end-of the hute lfit will be over one of the tilting trays Hdwhenever a container ,iSfbBlng discharged. best shown in Figs. 11 and12, the turret has a cam wheellfil fixed tothe central shaft [Mby a set screw idea, and to this cam wheel is secured the undulating cam {33 by means-of-welded arms i52 -provided with threaded shanks and nuts I53. It will be understood that the cam wheel l5! causes reciprocation of the ram I23, while the upperundulating cam I33 :causes oscillation of the arms. The cam lfilil is bolted tothe under side of the large cam EM and operates the push rods tilt-to reset the positioning pins I35. In addition'to these cams, thereis fixed tothe turret an upwardly extending loop-like cam i5 3, which engages the tilting trays H9 and causes the container;-deposited thereon from the chute Hail, to be dropped into the positioning fingers lSt and i131.

'The various stepsinithe manufacture of a cup shaped container are shown in Figs. 18-22. A circular blank l55 is cutfrom the strip iii in the form shown in Fig. 18. A cup-shaped container 156 isformed from'the blank, and a marginal ring i55a, shown in Fig. 19, is trimmed from its top portion. An inwardly directed bead i5! is formed in one of the beadingunits B. Acover let for such acontainer may be formed on the same machine by using slightly larger dies andsubstituting a die it! of the type shownin Fig, 9, to forman outer bead I59.

Operation All of the moving parts of the machine operate in timed relation, when the motor 3! is turned on by the switch 169. As described above, the work material is fed from a roll-through the die by means of the feeding and tensioning rolls "85 and a'i. Feed of the strip is stopped, the blanking die comes down and grips a circular area of the material and shears on its outer edge. While still gripping the blank, the forming plunger comes down, forms a cup, and th collar'liil trims offa waste ring 57. A blast of air through the orifice l5 blows the container down into the chute 53, and when the plunger moves upwardly a waste ring I5! is blown out of the machine by a blast of air from the air line H. The feeding mechanism then moves a fresh length of strip into the die. The turret chute 50, while travelling arounddeposits one container in each of the tilting trays l i9, and the cam I54 causes the tray to deposit the container in bead formingposition. The ram presses the container into the bead forming groove'and oscillates the container while the bead is being formed. When the ram withdraws, the tappet knocks the container out of the ram head and it drops down and rolls out ofthe chute The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom. for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

'1. An automatic machine for making cupshaped containers with beaded edges, comprising: a mainframe provided at its upper portion with a blanking and forming die; a plurality of heading units arranged in a circle on said frame beneath and aroundsaid forming die; conveyor means for directing different cup-shaped containers from the forming die directly to each of said beading units seriatim; and means for driving said blanking and forming die, said conveyor means, and the beading units in timed relation.

2. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the blanking and forming die includes a reciprocating plunger provided at its lower end with a forming head having rounded corners adapted to draw a flat work material blank into cup-shape in a female die, and said plunger having on its neck a cutting collar adapted to shear a trim ring from the upper portion of the work material as the plunger head advances into the female die.

3. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the-blanking and forming die includes a reciprocating blanking ring having an undulated cutting edge to cut a forming blank from a strip of work material, a spring urged presser ring for yieldingly gripping said forming blank, and a reciprocating ram in said presser ring for drawing the blank into cup-shape by forcing it into a female die while the marginal portion of said blank is gripped by the presse-r ring.

4. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which each beading unit has a tiltable tray adapted to receive a single cup-shaped container from the conveyor means, and the conveyor means has a rotating cam for tilting said tray and sliding the container into beading position.

5., A machine as specified in claim 1, in-which each beading unit has a heated beading groove, and a ram for pressing the edge of a cup-shaped container into said groove.

6. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which each beading unit has a heated beading groove,

a ram for gripping the cup-shaped container and pressing its edge portion into said groove, and means for oscillating said ram while the bead is being formed in the groove.

7. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the conveyor means includes a'centrally disposed continuously rotating turret, said turret having atitsupper portion a receiving chute having one end disposed beneath the forming die and the other end arranged to swing over the beading units, each of said beading units having a heated beading groove and a reciprocating ram for pressing the edge portion of a cup-shaped container into said groove, and cam means on said turret for oscillating said plungers.

8. A-machine as specified in claim 1, in which the conveyor means includes a centrally disposed continuously rotating turret, said turret having at its upper portion a receiving chute having one end disposed beneath the forming die and the other end arranged to swing over the heading units, each of said beading units having a heated beading groove and a reciprocating ram for pressing the edge portion of a cup-shaped container into said groove, 2. tiltable tray on each of the beading units adapted to receive a single container from said turret chute, and a cam on said turret for progressively tilting the loaded trays and discharging said containers into beading position in the unit.

9. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which each beading unit has a heated beading groove, an inclined discharge chute beneath said groove, a reciprocable hollow ram head opposite the groove to embrace the closed end of a cup-shaped container and press it into beading contact with said groove, a tappet slidably mounted in said ram to knock out said container when the ram is retracted, and rotating cam means driven by the conveyor means for reciprocating said r-am periodically and oscillating it continually.

10. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which each beading unit has a heated beading groove, an inclined discharge chute beneath said groove, a reciprocable hollow ram head opposite the groove to embrace the closed end of a cup-shaped container and press it into beading contact with said groove, a pair of positioning pins slidably mounted in said ram head so as to hold the container in proper position while it is advanced into beading contact with the groove, means limiting the rearward travel of one of said pins when the ram head is retracted, a push rod for returning the other positioning pin into receiving position after a completed container has been permitted to drop into the discharge chute, and cam means driven by the conveyor means for periodically actuating said push rod.

WHITNEY J. GREGORY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,642 Tietzmann June 23, 1908 1,035,984 Malde Aug. 20, 1912 1,553,504 Buchanan Sept. 15, 1925 1,553,505 Buchanan Sept. 15, 1925 1,844,500 Dailey Feb.'9, 1932 

